[imagesource: Swimply]

Not having pool access in sweltering heat is definitely a form of punishment. For what? That’s up to you.

Unless you come up with truly creative and unconventional ways to take a dip – like some Saffas I’ve seen with a plastic sheet holding water in the back of their bakkie, or that British fella who decided a bin was a perfect paddle pool – then you have to settle for swimming in your own sweat.

With temperatures rising at an alarming rate, we might just have to get used to that.

And then came Swimply – the Airbnb for pools.

Far more attractive than sitting in a kiddies pool on your lawn, you can rent a pool, be it the lavish or humble kind, for a couple of hours and enjoy splashing away the day without totally breaking the bank.

There are no listings available in South Africa – yet! – but if you happen to be in New York or Los Angeles and in need of a swim, Swimply’s got you.

If you’re one of the lucky few with a pool, this could be your sign to become a local host.

So far, the Swimply app lets you rent from more than 25 000 different private pools, hot tubs, tennis courts, and more across the US, Canada, and Australia, per Thrillist.

After verifying that you’re at least 21 years old on the app, you can search for available pools by location, date, time, and number of guests.

The pools come in all shapes and sizes, with varying amenities that could make the day worthy of a real watermelon sugar high:

You can browse through all the hot single pools near you and get more details, including house rules, pool width and depth, on-site furniture, whether the pool is child- or pet-friendly, and available amenities (BBQ grills, pool toys, local shops/restaurants, et cetera).

The page will also list whether there’s a bathroom available—about 80% of listings offer toilet access, but at least you’ll know in advance if you’re shit out of luck (ba dum tss).

Rentals range from $15 to a few hundred bucks per hour, which split between friends, might not be too steep. The pool areas are often big enough to host over a dozen guests.

I’ve seen the pools spilling over the edge of mansions in Camps Bay and others when flying home from Jozi and I reckon they could provide a good side hustle for hosts here, as well as a fun time for guests.

CNN reported on this addition to the sharing economy:

Founded in 2018, Swimply gained traction during the pandemic as many sought safe ways to travel and socialize outdoors with friends and family. Hosts, who set their own rates and give a 15% cut to Swimply, were able to bring in extra income at a time that was financially challenging for many.

And Swimply, which moved its headquarters from the East Coast to Los Angeles, benefited.

The startup raised $50 million over two rounds in 2021, with buy-in from tech executives from well-known companies such as Airbnb, Instacart and Poshmark.

It now has listings in more than 125 markets in the United States, Canada and Australia, and hit a key milestone of putting 1 million “butts in pools” to date.

Just like Uber and Airbnb which made people used to the idea of strangers sharing their homes and cars, swimming pools are the next best thing to get comfy splitting.

The company still has a few safety concerns and other regulatory issues to hash out before it can make a bigger splash around the world.

[sources:cnn&thrillist]